Milo of Croton – Top Athlete of Ancient Greece

Most of us are familiar with the fact that the Olympic Games originated in Ancient Greece. In fact, our modern games, which began in 1896, are still going strong. Over the years we’ve seen countless numbers of top athletes compete as people break records in their sports on a constant basis. As it turns out, the modern games aren’t the only ones where the athletes are celebrated. The Ancient Olympic Games have had their share of top athletes, as well. Milo of Croton is one of these competitors. Here is more information about who he was and what he was known for:

Information About Milo of Croton

Milo of Croton was born in the 6th Century B.C. in the city of Croton, which was located in the area of Ancient Greece known as Magna Graecia. Although he also had a military career, he was perhaps best known for his athletic ability in the sport of wresting. The exact dates of his birth and death are unknown, but historians believe that he was definitely alive in the 6th Century B.C. based on the fact that he has been referenced in several other sources, namely the fact that his Olympic victories in wresting were carefully recorded.

Milo of Croton’s Athletic Career

As mentioned above, Milo of Croton is most known for his athletic career. He showed physical prowess from a young age. Total, he won six victories at the Olympic Games in the sport of wresting. The first time that he won was around 540 B.C. He won five more titles in the Olympics in wrestling when he was an adult, and each of these victories took place anywhere between 536 B.C. to 520 B.C. However, he wasn’t just an athlete in the Olympic games. He also won seven total victories in the Pythian games, ten victories at the Isthmian games, and nine victories at the Nemean games. He is considered to have been one of the most decorated athletes in Ancient Greek history.

Ancient Greek Athletes Were Famous

It’s true that the top athletes of Ancient Greeks were considered to be famous, and Milo of Croton was no exception. Part of the allure of these athletes is in the rituals they underwent in order to improve in their sports. They would isolate themselves to their training grounds and consistently practice their sports until they were convinced they could become champions. Once the public did see their athletes emerge, it was on the competitive stage, which means that the players probably looked a bit larger than life. Once an athlete, such as Milo of Croton, wins a championship, the people remember who they are. Over time, they become part of the public consciousness and achieve celebrity status.

Although Milo of Croton also had a military career, he achieved the most success as an athlete. However, the fact that he was a proficient athlete also helped him become a better soldier, especially since his sport of choice was wresting, which was a skill that could easily translate to battle.